JOE’S GOT ISSUESJOE’S GOT ISSUES

Joseph M. ConlonJoseph M. Conlon

Technical Advisor, AMCATechnical Advisor, AMCA

The Clean Water ActThe Clean Water Act

• Water Pollution Control Act – 1972Water Pollution Control Act – 1972

• Regulates discharge of pollutants into Regulates discharge of pollutants into waters of U.S.waters of U.S.

• EPA has authority to regulateEPA has authority to regulate

• Section 301(a) prohibits pollutant Section 301(a) prohibits pollutant discharge unless permit issued IAW discharge unless permit issued IAW section 402section 402

Clean Water Act - DefinitionsClean Water Act - Definitions

• Pollution: man-induced alteration of Pollution: man-induced alteration of chemical, physical, bio integrity of water chemical, physical, bio integrity of water

• Pollutant: chemical waste, biological Pollutant: chemical waste, biological materials and agricultural wastematerials and agricultural waste

Clean Water Act - DefinitionsClean Water Act - Definitions

• Point Source: discernible, confined and Point Source: discernible, confined and discrete conveyance such as pipe, ditch discrete conveyance such as pipe, ditch rolling stock, etc. from which a pollutant rolling stock, etc. from which a pollutant may be dischargedmay be discharged

• Does not include agricultural stormwater Does not include agricultural stormwater discharges or return flows from irrigationdischarges or return flows from irrigation

Clean Water Act – Civil ActionsClean Water Act – Civil Actions

• Any citizen - against any person, including Any citizen - against any person, including government entities alleged to be violating government entities alleged to be violating effluent standardseffluent standards

• Against EPA Administrator if alleged Against EPA Administrator if alleged failure to perform duties under CWA failure to perform duties under CWA

Headwaters vs. Talent IrrigationHeadwaters vs. Talent Irrigation

• March 12, 2001 - 9March 12, 2001 - 9thth Circuit decision for Circuit decision for plaintiffsplaintiffs

• Magnacide H – acroleinMagnacide H – acrolein

• Residual acrolein considered chemical wasteResidual acrolein considered chemical waste

• EPA - enforcement low priorityEPA - enforcement low priority

Headwaters vs.Talent IrrigationHeadwaters vs.Talent Irrigation

• FIFRA – nationally uniform labeling FIFRA – nationally uniform labeling system, but no permitting system for system, but no permitting system for individual applicationindividual application

• EPA approves pesticides with knowledge EPA approves pesticides with knowledge that pesticides containing pollutants may be that pesticides containing pollutants may be discharged from point sources only discharged from point sources only pursuant to obtaining NPDES permitpursuant to obtaining NPDES permit

Altman vs. Town of AmherstAltman vs. Town of Amherst

• Sept 26, 2002 – 2Sept 26, 2002 – 2ndnd Circuit decision Circuit decision

• Application of adulticides (malathion, Application of adulticides (malathion, resmethrin, permethrin) to wetlands w/o resmethrin, permethrin) to wetlands w/o NPDES permitNPDES permit

Is a Pesticide a Chemical Waste?Is a Pesticide a Chemical Waste?

• Is it a chemical pesticide?Is it a chemical pesticide?

• Is it an aquatic pesticide?Is it an aquatic pesticide?

• Is it applied for public benefit? Is it applied for public benefit?

• Is it applied IAW FIFRA? Is it applied IAW FIFRA?

Rulemaking PetitionRulemaking Petition

• Requested change in definition of Requested change in definition of “pollutant”“pollutant”

• Requested change in definition of “discharge Requested change in definition of “discharge of pollutant”of pollutant”

• Specifically exempt larvicides/adulticidesSpecifically exempt larvicides/adulticides

EPA Interim GuidanceEPA Interim Guidance

• July 11, 2003 EPA issues guidance memoJuly 11, 2003 EPA issues guidance memo

• Pesticides applied IAW label not pollutantsPesticides applied IAW label not pollutants

• Addresses jurisdictional issuesAddresses jurisdictional issues

• Talent was FIFRA violationTalent was FIFRA violation

• Comments provided 14 OctoberComments provided 14 October

Further LitigationFurther Litigation

LWD vs. ForsgrenLWD vs. Forsgren

No Spray Coalition vs. NYCNo Spray Coalition vs. NYC

Gem County - St. John’s Organic farmGem County - St. John’s Organic farm

Pesticide Program Dialogue CommitteePesticide Program Dialogue Committee

• October 29-30, 2003October 29-30, 2003

• Bill Meredith – AMCA RepresentativeBill Meredith – AMCA Representative

• PPDC: 42 stakeholdersPPDC: 42 stakeholders

• ESA IssuesESA Issues

• Mosquito Product Labeling IssuesMosquito Product Labeling Issues

Citizens Against Toxic Substances v. EPA: salmon and forestry plants in N. California. EPA now working on concurrences on determinations with NMFS and FWS

Center for Biological Diversity v. EPA: Red legged frog in CA. Two of four claims denied, further action pending

OR Nat. Res. Council v. Bureau of Rec.: salmon and suckers harmed by fungicides and aquatics in Klamath Basin irrigation canals and adjacent crops

OR Nat. Res. Council v. EPA & OR DEQ: claims fish species affected by aquatic product - failure to consult

Washington Toxics Coalition v. EPA: salmonid species, interim buffers for 40+ ais ag/professional use only - 6 ais urban

Cascade Resources Advocacy Group (Ctr. For Biological Diversity) v. EPA: failure to consult PLUS alleging violations of the Migratory Treaty Act

Defenders of Wildlife v. EPA: fenthion/mosquitoes – alleges violation of Migratory Bird Act - threatening certain protected migratory and endangered birds

11 Enviros v. USDA: failure to consult in issuing field test permits for biopharming

NRDC v. EPA: suit alleging EPA is not doing enough to protect endangered species in Chesapeake Bay and major Midwestern and Southern rivers from atrazine

Center for Biological Diversity and Save Our Springs Alliance v. EPA: Atrazine/Diazinon/Carbaryl – alleges failure to note risks to Barton Springs Salamander

ESA LawsuitsESA Lawsuits

PPDC – ESA IssuesPPDC – ESA Issues

• Need enhanced communication Need enhanced communication w/USFWS w/USFWS

• Ecological Risk AssessmentsEcological Risk Assessments– Screening level for broad taxonomic groupsScreening level for broad taxonomic groups– Risk Quotients (RQ)Risk Quotients (RQ)– If RQ high, then species-specific If RQ high, then species-specific

• County Level BulletinsCounty Level Bulletins– Specific areasSpecific areas– Last resortLast resort

Risk Assessments – AMCA ConcernsRisk Assessments – AMCA Concerns

• Who conducts risk assessments (RA)?Who conducts risk assessments (RA)?

• Who funds RA?Who funds RA?

• Will EPA, USFWS, NMFS be funded to Will EPA, USFWS, NMFS be funded to perform roles?perform roles?

• Can RA be challenged?Can RA be challenged?

• How are priorities determined?How are priorities determined?

• Which pesticides reviewed first?Which pesticides reviewed first?

ESA Rulemaking ProposalESA Rulemaking Proposal

• Habitat destruction and invasive species worst Habitat destruction and invasive species worst threatsthreats

• USFWS & NMFS propose regulations for USFWS & NMFS propose regulations for improved consultationimproved consultation– agree that EPA RA’s adequately protect ESagree that EPA RA’s adequately protect ES– do not require separate reviews by agenciesdo not require separate reviews by agencies– To be periodically reviewed by agenciesTo be periodically reviewed by agencies– reduces red tape and redundancyreduces red tape and redundancy

• National Wilderness Institute supports proposalNational Wilderness Institute supports proposal– ESA lawsuits used to limit access to pesticidesESA lawsuits used to limit access to pesticides– not used to protect speciesnot used to protect species

Mosquitocide Labeling IssuesMosquitocide Labeling Issues

• Restricted Use designationRestricted Use designation

• Separate Directions for Mosquito Separate Directions for Mosquito ControlControl

• ““Use over water” Use over water”

• Hazard StatementsHazard Statements

• Lead Agency ConsultLead Agency Consult

• Calibration Requirements on LabelCalibration Requirements on Label

• ““Repeat as Needed”Repeat as Needed”

Environmentalist IssuesEnvironmentalist Issues

• All adulticides need RU labelAll adulticides need RU label• Spraying doesn’t stop WNVSpraying doesn’t stop WNV• No level of exposure is safeNo level of exposure is safe• Spray only when problem Spray only when problem

quantifiedquantified• Source reduction & Pub Ed are the Source reduction & Pub Ed are the

answersanswers• Don’t allow registrants to specify Don’t allow registrants to specify

application intervalsapplication intervals

The FutureThe Future

• ChallengesChallenges– Washington NPDES PermitWashington NPDES Permit

– Lyndhurst et al.Lyndhurst et al.

– Gem County, venueGem County, venue